Luxury cars

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Bugatti debuts most costly new car; sold for $18.9 million

Bugatti has never made a subtle car. Now, even by the elite manufacturer’s standards, the French carmaker has outdone itself. During this year Geneva Motor Show, the one-of-a-kind La Voiture Noire was unveiled. It’s touted as the most expensive new car of all time with a price of $18.9 million. Inspired by the Type 57 SC Atlantic, the La Voiture Noire references Bugatti’s heritage in its design. Constructed from carbon fiber and coiffed in a deep black finish, the one-off hypercar was handcrafted. It has a 16-cylinder, 1,479 horsepower, 1,180 lb-ft of torque, a top speed of 261 mph and with six exhausts. “Every single component has been handcrafted and the carbon fiber body has a deep black gloss only

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2018 Lexus LC 500: a beauty of a beast

A middle-aged man and his three teenage companions stopped in a coffee shop parking lot, gawked at the exterior of the 2018 Lexus LC 500 and asked if they could check out the inside. A guy in an old pick-up with a dilapidated camper shell stopped in the middle of a street near to where the Lexus was parked and started a conversation about saving his money to buy one. Some people pointed, others provided a thumb’s up or exclaimed “nice wheels, dude.” A few young drivers pulled up near me on the freeway, momentarily glared and sped off, perhaps suggesting I follow them. It was tempting, but no thanks, fellas. Key Takeaways 471-hp 5.0-liter V8 with Maserati-grade engine note:

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2018 Infiniti QX80: ridiculously big and beautiful

With increased emphasis on green vehicles — entry-level economy boxes to electric supercars — one look at the 2018 Infiniti QX80 and a prevailing thought is that the luxury division of Nissan has missed the movement. The massive SUV is a small tank defined by opulence. It weighs more than three tons. It’s a heavy drinker, sucking down a gallon of fuel for every 13 miles it advances in city driving. It has 20-inch wheels (22-inch wheels are an option) and all-wheel drive. It often doesn’t fit in standard-sized parking spots. The QX80 has a 26-gallon gas tank that requires refilling in less than 500 miles. When fully equipped, the QX80 has four option packages and a few miscellaneous items

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2018 Audi A5: Refines entry level luxury coupe

The Audi A5 joined the German carmaker’s lineup in 1997, replacing the Audi 80. But for 2018, the Audi A5 is a new generation. And its design and features further designate the car’s position in the entry-level luxury coupe segment as an oxymoron. Equipped with a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder that produces 252 horsepower and advance with a seven-speed transmission, the new Audi A5 advances smoothly and quickly. But there’s a brief turbo lag. The A5’s power is evidenced by its acceleration in the 0-60 miles per hour standard in 5.0 seconds. The all-wheel-drive system is impressive while cornering, particularly at higher speeds. The A5’s stability and braking are reassuring. Manual transmissions are nearing dinosaur status, but the Audi A5 is

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Zynga CSR Racing 2 honors Ferrari 70th anniversary

Owning a Ferrari is a lifelong dream for many performance car enthusiasts. But not many vehicle owners get to have their dream come true. But in conjunction the supercar’s 70th anniversary, Zynga a leading social game developer, has launched its homage to the iconic Italian vehicle in CSR Racing 2 (CSR2). Players can get behind the virtual wheel of a Ferrari 488 GTB, one of the six tailor-made Ferraris coming to CSR2 in honor of the manufacturer’s milestone celebration. “Over the course of 70 years, Ferrari has set the luxury standard of excellence in the automotive industry, producing some of the world’s most desirable vehicles,” said Bernard Kim, President of Publishing, Zynga. “As the exclusive mobile partner for Ferrari’s 70th

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Newcomer Genesis gets top J.D. Power quality honors

Genesis, the first-year automaker formerly top-line model in the Hyundai lineup, earned the highest ranking among 13 premium brands in the just-announced J.D. Power 2017 U.S. Initial Quality Study. The 31st annual study serves as the industry benchmark for new-vehicle quality measured at 90 days of ownership.   The 2017 study s based on responses from nearly 80,000 purchasers and lessees of new 2017 model-vehicles. The study uses a 233-question survey designed to provide manufacturers with information to facilitate the identification of problems and drive product improvement. “Receiving this award in our very first year in the U.S. market is a strong testament toward the commitment and meticulous work of Genesis,” said Head of Genesis Brand, Manfred Fitzgerald. “We are

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Classic Auto Week adds Ferrari Concours at Pebble Beach

Ferrari is likely the most popular supercar and the auto industry’s most powerful brand. It’s involved in nearly every avenue of high-end racing, exotic consumer cars offering and classic car shows. Now more than 75 years old, the iconic company was founded by Enzo Ferrari in Modena, Italy, in 1939. And its nearly seven-decade relationship between Pebble Beach and Ferrari will expand exponentially in August when the Ferrari 70th Anniversary Concours will be held in conjunction with the Concours d’Elegance on Aug. 20 at Pebble Beach Golf Links. The double Concours will also mark the debut of the Fairway One project, which adds 38 guest rooms — 30 units in three two-story buildings and eight units in two four-bedroom golf

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Rolls-Royce unveils most expensive new car ever made

If money is no problem in your car-buying habits, why not purchase the most expensive new car ever made — a one-of-a-kind Rolls-Royce? An unnamed buyer, seeking a vehicle styled after the Rolls-Royce offerings in the 1920 and 1930s, spent a reported $12.8 million on a Rolls-Royce Sweptail. The car took four years to make and was unveiled to the public recently at the Concorso d’Eleganza in Italy. The custom coach was designed via the customer’s wishes: a coach-built coupe with a glass roof. The buyer is described in the carmaker’s press release as a “connoisseur and collector of distinctive, one-off items including super-yachts and private aircraft.” Further, the vehicle was detailed as having traits of several iconic Rolls-Royce models

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2017 Lincoln MKZ: A worthy underdog luxury sedan

Four years after its last redesign, the 2017 Lincoln MKZ received an interior refresh and an exterior facelift. The five-seat luxury sedan debuted in 2006 as the Zephyr and was renamed the MKZ the following year. Regardless of the badge, the underdog Lincoln is still seeking a better market share. It’s positioned among the most competitive automotive segments. Since its debut, the vehicle gas-only trims have sold more than 34,000 units in the United States in a year only twice. Sales the last two years were slightly more than 30,000. Available with gas-only or hybrid engines, the Lincoln MXZ has four trim levels. The standard letter or number sequences many manufacturers use has been dispatched for Premier, Select, Reserve and

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Manufacturer Spotlight: McLaren, the elegant supercar

Lightweight, fast and British is the most succinct way to define McLaren. But the supercar is much more. Conceived with the passion of Formula 1 driver Bruce McLaren from New Zealand, the exclusive and powerful coupe represents innovation at its stealth best. While enduring financial catastrophe and design issues since its arrival in 1963, McLaren‘s racing division consistently challenges Ferrari for supremacy with its impressive array of prestigious honors. McLaren’s sensational racetrack pedigree also reflects the lightweight automotive rocket’s success of the road. The supercar may be exclusive, but when it’s on the scene as a racetrack celebrity or as an elite public star, it’s unlike any other vehicle. It’s the elegant, performance-oriented superstar of supercars. Consider the 2017 McLaren

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2017 Bentley Mulsanne: Classic sedan, royalty for all

Highway 128 in Northern California often winds through manicured vineyards and rolling open terrain decorated with gnarly old oak trees. It’s a road ideally suited for a warm day’s drive in a small, lightweight vintage sports car, convertible top retracted. But it’s just as delightful navigating the same twisting, narrow two-lane road in a 2017 Bentley Mulsanne Speed. It’s a 6,000-pound luxury furnished apartment on wheels. It’s about the same size as one of the trendy new tiny houses infiltrating the national landscape. But those don’t yet have a 2,200-watt, 19-speaker symphonic-quality sound system or chilled champagne flutes snuggly stored in the back seat wet bar. And they don’t have tires that might provide inferiority issues for monster truck owners,

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2016 Lexus RC 200t: Redefines entry level luxury sports car

For its sophomore year, the 2016 Lexus RC includes two new models. The 200t features a turbo-charged, four-cylinder engine with rear-wheel drive. The all-wheel-drive RC 300 employs a 3.5-liter V6. Regardless of models, the 2016 RC lineup is categorized in the entry level luxury coupe segment. It’s a strong marketplace where BMW and Audi usually get top billing, followed by worthy offerings from Cadillac, Acura and Infiniti. The Weekly Driver Test Drive The 2016 RC200t is a head-turner and a keen driving machine, particularly considering the exterior color of my test vehicle (Atomic Silver) and its F Sport trim. It adds Lexus‘ Adaptive Variable Suspension, 19-inch wheels and a limited-slip differential. The exterior paint color is the most attractive of

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2016 Lexus NX 300h: Luxurious, efficient, pricey

Now it its second model year, the 2016 Lexus NX 300h continues from its debut last year without major changes. The luxury compact crossover is rare in its segment. Its only competition is the Audi Q5 hybrid. The Weekly Driver Test Drive A gasoline-electric hybrid, the 2016 Lexus NX 300h features a 2.5-liter, 16-valve, four-cylinder gasoline engine matched with two electric motors supplied with a nickel-metal hydride battery pack. The marriage produces 194 horsepower. Like all Lexus vehicles throughout the high-end lineup, the Lexus NX has a substantial standard technology and safety equipment list equaled by a similarly sized list of options. Standard features include: Satellite radio, HD Radio, an eight-speaker audio system, a USB port, Siri Eyes Free, a

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2016 Lexus GS-F: Luxury sedan, sports car attitude

The 2016 Lexus GS-F is a new vehicle. It joined the upscale carmaker’s lineup as a luxury sedan hopeful of providing competition for well-entrenched, performance-oriented stalwarts like the Mercedes-Benz AMG, BMW “M” division and Audi RS models. Marketed as four-door, five-seat sedan, the new Lexus leans more toward an awkward term (at least for purists) of four-door sports car. It’s designed and performs like a roadster, but it’s a luxury sedan and it’s all that defines the segment — a plush, well-designed interior and a refined, handsome exterior. The Weekly Driver Test Drive As a five-passenger sedan offered only with rear-wheel drive, the 2016 Lexus GS-F is a luxury vehicle by any definition and its standard equipment list is a

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Tesla oddity: Safest car ever tested but unreliable? (VIDEO)

Telsa has revolutionized the automotive industry, but the super luxury electric car has just received its first major dubious honor. Consumer Reports has described $127,000 Tesla Model S has “worse than average” in reliability. The unexpected rating is odd considering the prestigious publication in recent months selected the Tesla as the safest car ever made. It’s also rated as the publication’s best performing car. According to the publication, results from the 1,400 responses from consumers detailed a long list of “maladies with the drivetrain, charging equipment, big-screen center console and evidence of a poorly-built vehicle with squeaks, rattles and leaks.” Tesla Model S sets record as safest car in history As a result, a Consumer Reports’ representative commented, “We are no longer

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60 Minutes, Mercedes-Benz steer driverless cars

In its segment on driverless cars, 60 Minutes showcased the latest technology being hotly pursued by numerous automakers, most notably Mercedes-Benz and Audi. With Bill Whitaker as the segment host and Mercedes-Benz engineer Alex Hilliger von Thile as the “driver” the duo took a spin in a Mercedes F015. It’s the futuristic-looking prototype the German carmaker is testing as car that does the driving — on a pre-programmed course. The sleek Mercedes-Benz had a lot newfangled equipment: As the segment detailed: * Any passenger can control the car from any seat, two of which can face forward or backward; * The no-button dashboard pops up with the swipe of a hand and responds to both eye movements and hand gestures;

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